Semifinals: Dan Musser vs. Ross Merriam

Dan Musser took RUG Pod to the Top 8 of the Standard Open while Michael Hetrick did the same in the Invitational. Ross Merriam came to the table with Delver of Secrets, looking to take down its first trophy in a few weeks—with none of those bothersome Solar Flare decks in the Top 8, he looked good to do it!

Revealing Thought Scour, Ross flipped his Delver into a 3/2 and attacked for 3 damage, then tapped out for Sword of War and Peace, seeking to make quick work of Dan in the air. Unfortunately for Ross, Dan had the ability to cast turn 3 Acidic Slime and take the Sword out of the equation! He still fell to 14 as Ross attacked again, but Ross found himself with no plays to make... on his own turn, at least.

Attacking again, Ross continued to govern the race as he passed the turn. Dan cast Strangleroot Geist and attacked with everyone, threatening 6 damage, but Ross Snagged the Acidic Slime and took just 4 damage. He already had a Geist of Saint Traft and a Snapcaster Mage at the ready, making the match very close to over from here.

Naming Angel, Ross declined to tap out for Geist in order to preserve his ability to Snap off a Leak, and passed after attacking Dan to 7 life. He was on 11, and Dan jammed another Strangleroot Geist to even their scores before trying to cast Inferno Titan. Snapcaster and Mana Leak countered that one—good hold for that play!

Ross swung Dan to 2 then played Geist of Saint Traft and another Delver, threatening to end it all this turn. He had no hand, so Dan would need a lot of defense or lifegain to survive. He started by swinging his Strangleroot Geists, likely hoping to encourage a block from Geist, but Ross took the damage and fell to 3 in order to preserve the highest quantity of flying damage.

He’d plan to attack and have drawn an untapped land to use Restoration Angel if Dan presented a lethal blocker, but Dan couldn’t do that—he just had two Birds of Paradise to go with his Llanowar Elves. Dan took the 6 damage from Ross when he attacked, and Ross played Seachrome Coast before ending the turn, unable to Angel but likely not eager to waltz into the Vines anyway.

Dan played his fifth land, relying those Birds for red, and cast Zealous Conscripts to let his Llanowar Elves get in for a point of damage. Dismember took the Conscripts apart, keeping Geist the biggest creature on the board. Ross took advantage, attacking Dan to 7 and seizing a hefty lead.